World News

UZBEKISTAN Uralmashplant and Enter Engineering to build ore mining and processing plant

Consortium of Enter Engineering (EE), a leader in industrial building construction in the market of Central Asia and Russia, and Uralmashplant JSC (part of the industrial group of Gazprombank) are set to build an ore mining and processing plant in Uzbekistan. Representatives of the alliance between the companies have recently signed an agreement with Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Combine (AMMC), a major producer of cathode copper in Uzbekistan.

Alfonso Samonte Tengko, an Authorised Representative of EE, and Yan Tsenter, CEO of UZTM-KARTEX Group, signed an EPC contract for the engineering, procurement and construction of a copper-concentration complex in the city of Almalyk (MOF-3), on behalf of the consortium. The total value of the contract is US$2 billion and the project will be completed in 2023. On behalf of AMMC, the document was signed by Bakhodirzhon Sidikov, Director of the project off ice for the implementation of the investment project ‘Development of the Yoshlik-1 deposit’.

According to the document, EE and Uralmashplant will jointly build a turnkey plant at Almalyk MMC: EE will carry out the design and construction of the facility, and UZTM will supply the full range of process equipment. UZTM plans to manufacture over 100 pieces of equipment for MOF No. 3, with a capacity of 60 million tpy, including large-capacity mills, crushing and handling plants, secondary cone crushers, press-rolls, screens of various types, and other equipment.

According to Sidikov, the choice of consortium for the performance of the contract was based on its competitive advantages in terms of cost, plant commissioning period, and conditions of financing for the entire value of the contract. When evaluating the proposals, the company also considered the possibility of local labour force intake by the consortium, as well as local manufacture of spare parts and materials for the equipment at the central repair and mechanical plant of Almalyk MMC JSC.

The construction of a concentration plant at Almalyk MMC is the first joint project of UZTM-KARTEX (incorporates Uralmashplant and IZ-KARTEX) and EE. In the future, the companies within the framework of the created association plan to participate in the construction of other facilities both in Central Asia and Russia.

CANADA McLaren Resources receives exploration permit for Kerrs Gold property

McLaren Resources Inc. has been issued a mineral exploration permit by the Ontario Ministry of Energy, Northern Development, and Mines (MENDM) for its 100% owned Kerrs gold property, located in the prolific Timmins Gold District of Northeastern Ontario, Canada, where over 70 million oz of gold have been produced to date.

The Kerrs Permit has been issued to McLaren for an initial 3 year term. This permit allows McLaren to undertake various surface exploration activities on the property including line-cutting, geological and geophysical surveys, and diamond drilling. It is anticipated that initial data compilation and field studies are to be undertaken on the Kerrs property during the summer of 2021.

McLaren has also applied to MENDM for an exploration permit for its 100%-owned McCool gold property. The application is currently under review by MENDM and it is anticipated that an exploration permit will be issued to McLaren in the coming weeks.

The 775 ha. Kerrs gold property, along with 275 ha. McCool gold property, were acquired from Newmont Corporation in mid-2020 in exchange for a 4 year option on McLaren’s Augdome gold property, which lies immediately east of Newmont’s past-producing Dome Gold Mine in Timmins.

The McCool and Kerrs gold properties are located within the Abitibi Greenstone Belt along the Porcupine-Destor Deformation Zone, which is host to many of the gold deposits in the area, approximately 73 km east of Timmins city centre. The McCool and Kerrs properties are located near several gold mines and development projects, including the Black Fox Mine, the Fenn Gib project, the Golden Highway project, the Garrison project and the Holt Holloway Mine complex, which are all situated along Hwy 101 east of Timmins. McLaren also owns a 100% interest in the past-producing Blue Quartz Gold Mine property, which is located approximately 22 km west of the McCool property.

Considering the permitting delays brought about by the pandemic, McLaren is extending the expiry date on 342 000 outstanding warrants by 3 months from the 30 June 2021 to 30 September 2021.

WORLD NEWS

Diary Dates

Mines and Money Online Connect 31 August – 02 September 2021 VIRTUAL EVENT https://minesandmoney.com/online

MINExpo INTERNATIONAL 2021 13 – 15 September 2021 Las Vegas, USA www.minexpo.com

International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC) 2021

25 – 27 October 2021 Virtual & Melbourne, Australia www.imarcglobal.com

China Coal & Mining Expo 2021 26 – 29 October 2021 Beijing, China www.chinaminingcoal.com

Iron Ore Conference 2021 08 – 10 November 2021 Virtual & Perth, Australia www.ausimm.com/ conferences-and-events/iron-ore

AIMEX 2021 16 – 18 November 2021 Sydney, Australia www.aimex.com.au

Mining Indonesia 2021 17 – 20 November 2021 Jakarta, Indonesia www.mining-indonesia.com

To stay informed about the status of industry events and any potential cancellations of events due to COVID-19, visit Global Mining Review’s events page: www.globalminingreview.com/events

AUSTRALIA Caterpillar Holdings Australia acquires Minetec from Codan

Caterpillar Holdings Australia Pty Ltd has announced its acquisition of Australia-based Minetec Pty Ltd from Codan Ltd.

Specialising in communications technology for mining, Minetec supplies high-precision tracking and data communications networks, as well as a purpose-built set of soft ware applications that address both productivity and safety for underground mining. Part of Caterpillar’s ongoing focus on providing mining solutions for safety, autonomy and productivity, the acquisition demonstrates a commitment by the company to the expansion of Cat® MineStarTM Solutions for integrated underground operations.

Since 2018, Caterpillar and Minetec have worked under a collaborative agreement to develop and deliver technologies targeting the unique challenges faced with underground hard rock mining operations. The result has delivered unique site solutions that have expanded the capabilities of MineStar to off er real-time, GPS-type tracking for the underground space. As part of the acquisition agreement, Codan will provide manufacturing services to Caterpillar for up to 5 years to ensure a successful transition and continuous supply to customers.

Vale has announced a CAN$150 million investment to extend current mining activities in Thompson, Manitoba, by 10 years while aggressive exploration drilling of known orebodies holds the promise of mining well past 2040.

The Thompson Mine Expansion is a two-phase project. The recent announcement represents Phase 1 and includes critical infrastructure such as new ventilation raises and fans, increased backfill capacity, and additional power distribution. The changes are forecast to improve current production by 30%.

Coupled with the announcement, Vale is continuing an extensive drilling programme to further define known orebodies and search for new mineralisation.

The Thompson orebody was first discovered in 1956 by Vale (then known as Inco) following the adoption of new exploration technology and the largest exploration programme to-date in the company’s history. Mining of the Thompson orebody began in 1961.

CANADA Vale invests CAN$150 million to extend life of Manitoba operations

ZAMBIA Castillo Copper to commence geophysical campaigns

Castillo Copper Limited has announced the appointment of Geophex Surveys, an experienced geophysical consultancy firm, to under-take comprehensive induced polarisation surveys across the Luanshya and Mkushi Projects, which are located within Zambia’s copper-belt.

Given the scale of the campaign, it will take 6 – 8 weeks to complete and fully analyse the results; however, reconciling these findings with known anomalous areas at surface should identify priority targets to drill.

WORLD NEWS

USA Jervois Board approves full construction of Idaho Cobalt Operations

Jervois Mining Ltd has advised that its Board has approved the final construction of Jervois’ Idaho Cobalt Operations (ICO) in the US. ICO is situated approximately 40 km west of the town of Salmon in the east central part of Idaho.

Approval follows pricing and closure of the book of Jervois’ subsidiary’s off ering of senior secured bonds to raise US$100 million, guaranteed by Jervois. Upon satisfaction of the conditions precedent to the release from escrow of the proceeds of the bonds, which is expected in 4Q21, they will be used for the payment of capital expenditures, operating costs, and other costs associated with the construction of ICO and bringing it into production. First production from ICO continues to be expected from mid-2022.

M3 was appointed as lead engineer for the detailed design and site early works in November 2020, and an EPCM contract for full construction is expected to be executed shortly.

Final construction of ICO will include developing an underground mine over a period of 10 months starting in September 2021, which is scheduled to deliver first ore to an operational mill in July 2022. Development of the mine is being executed by Small Mine Development (SMD), based in Battle Mountain, Nevada. SMD also participated in the mine design and costing for the updated BFS.

ICO will comprise a 1200 short tpd of ore mill and concentrator to produce separated cobalt and copper concentrates. Gold mineralisation in the mine reserve at ICO will largely report to the cobalt concentrate and will be recovered at São Miguel Paulista (SMP) refinery in Brazil, subject to Jervois completing its SMP acquisition and successfully restarting the refinery in stages during 2022 and 2023. Copper concentrates will be sold into North American markets. Tailings will either be placed back underground or filtered and safely placed in a dry stack waste storage facility.

Jervois has developed detailed plans to operate ICO in an environmentally responsible manner. Demonstrations by Jervois of its ability to construct and operate safely for the environment, together with necessary drilling success once underground access has been opened (to both convert existing and future mineral resources into mine reserves), are expected to positively support discussions with the USFS, as well as other US regulators, regarding a future expansion utilising the currently disturbed site footprint.

Site early works are well underway, with full construction to commence on the ground in September 2021. ICO will create approximately 200 local construction jobs and 180 operational positions once the site transitions into commercial operation.

The mine site is equipped with all the required infrastructure, including: access roads from both Salmon and Challis, full grid power (at less than US$0.05/kwh; Idaho Power has off ered ICO 100% renewable power from 2023, the first full year of mine and mill operation), a bore field for water supply, communications, and all site earthworks and terracing.

Once in operation, ICO will be the first US cobalt mine in generations. Given cobalt’s many applications and significant supply chain risks, it has been designated a critical mineral by the US government, and was listed by the Department of the Interior.

CANADA Epiroc completes acquisition of Meglab

Epiroc, a leading productivity and sustainability partner for the mining and infrastructure industries, has completed its acquisition of Meglab, a Canadian company with expertise in providing electrification infrastructure solutions to mines. The solutions support mining customers in their transition to battery-electric vehicles.

Meglab, based in Val-D’Or, Quebec, Canada, is a technology integrator that designs, manufactures, installs, and supports practical and cost-eff ective electrification and telecommunications infrastructure solutions to customers in several countries.

Its products and solutions include system design, substations, switch-gears and automation system solutions, enabling the infrastructure needed for mine electrification and equipment charging solutions, as well as for digitalisation and automation of operations.

Meglab has more than 240 employees and had revenues in 2020 of approximately CAN$49 million (SEK 335 million).